CAF disqualifies Enugu Rangers from Confederations Cup

Abuja – The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has announced the disqualification of Enugu Rangers FC from its Confederation Cup for featuring junior international goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel in the competition.

In a statement from Ademola Olajire, the Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Tuesday in Abuja, the letter dated July 2, was addressed to its General Secretary, Mr Musa Amadu.

According to the statement, the letter reads that CAF based its decision on documents and letters sent by Shooting Stars and its Chairman.

“It confirmed that by the time the player was registered on Dec. 24, 2012, no agreement was found between Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers for the player.

“The League Management Company (LMC), which is in charge of Nigeria’s elite division league, confirmed that Daniel plays in the Glo Premier League.

“He has a valid license that recognises him as a player of Enugu Rangers and the club has immediately set in motion the process to appeal the decision,’’ the statement read.

It further quoted Amadu as saying that the NFA would give Rangers its full support in the appeal process.

“We are absolutely shocked that an internal transfer matter between two clubs can snowball into a situation that will see a Nigerian club disqualified from continental competition.

“We have seen the player’s contract; he signed a contract to play for Shooting Stars FC between January and December 2012 at the expiration of his duly signed contract with Enugu Rangers.

“The player did not start playing for Enugu Rangers until he secured his licence from the LMC in April this year.

“It is also on record that the player had featured for Enugu Rangers against clubs like Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars, and even against Shooting Stars in Enugu a couple of weeks ago, without any of the clubs protesting his eligibility.’’

“The NFA and LMC will afford Enugu Rangers total support in this case and we are confident that the club will be re-instated in the competition.’’

The club is the only Nigerian club left in contention for continental honours this year.

It had prevailed 1-0 on aggregate over CSS Faxien to reach the prestigious mini-league phase. (NAN)